Taking This Show on the Road: Three Ways to Connect with Hike it Baby When Traveling

Whether you’re new to hiking with your baby or toddler, or you’re looking for a new trail to explore, the Hike it Baby community is a valuable resource for finding family hiking trails around the country. In this article, we share three kid-friendly hikes in Virginia to explore with babies and young children. Virginia is a state rich with history and natural beauty, and there are hikes that exploit both of these while still being manageable for kids. Want to see for yourself? Hike it Baby members recommend the following three wonderful venues in Virginia for families with kids. Cannonball Trail (Norfolk, VA) The words "cannonball" and "trail," when put together, may conjure up images of violence on the one hand and roughing it on the other. However, Cannonball Trail is as civilized a trail as you'll ever have the pleasure of strolling. It forms a rough loop, with some diversions, in downtown Norfolk and is marked by round medallions in granite slabs set in the ground. The urban hiker can start anywhere, but how about starting at historic St. Paul's Episcopal Church? Find the British cannonball still embedded in one of the walls and you'll understand how the trail got its name. Other points of interest are military monuments, stately homes and even The Pagoda, a beautiful gift from Taiwan to the City of Norfolk and Commonwealth of Virginia. Allow roughly two hours to see the sights. Cannonball Trail has become an institution (weekly for two years and counting!) among local Hike it Baby members ... with some modification. The group begins at Cure Coffeehouse, a local institution in its own right, and continues along the waterfront in downtown Norfolk. This makes for some nice adult-pace walking, plus playtime for the kids at Town Point Park, so it’s a good balance for everyone. There’s even a splash pad in the summertime! Tips: The Reception Center on Freemason Street can provide maps and other information. Then you can go around to nearby St. Paul's to look for the trail's namesake. If you don't start at Cure Coffeehouse (and even if you do!), then you may want to end at Cafe Stella, another popular place to relax while in the area. If you have time, consider taking a tour of the Battleship Wisconsin. One of four Iowa-class battleships built during the Second World War, it is now a museum ship moored in Norfolk Harbor. Photo courtesy of visitnorfolk.com. The Saunders-Monticello Trail (Charlottesville, VA) The name Monticello is instantly familiar to students of early American history. This was the home designed along neoclassical lines by Thomas Jefferson, primary writer of the Declaration of Independence and Founding Father. The Saunders-Monticello Trail is a 2-mile trail leading from the parking lot of Kemper Park and up Carter Mountain to the Visitor Center for this iconic mansion. It's a hard-packed, well-cared-for dirt path, interspersed with bridges and boardwalks. It winds through an arboretum of native trees and shrubs, and includes overlooks and a 2-acre pond. The grade up this "little mountain" (Monticello in Italian) is an easy one – no problem at all for little walkers and families with strollers. The walk itself is rewarding enough, but opportunities to see the home of one of America's Founding Fathers don't come up often. It's the perfect chance to introduce children to some important history. In the Visitor Center, there is a small (and free) exhibit for children. For adults who need a rest, there's a small (not free) cafe. Exploring Monticello will take much more time than walking the trail, at least three hours if done properly, so plan accordingly. Separate visits may be called for. Read more about the trail in our Family Trail Guide. Tips: Note that although dogs are allowed on leashes, unfortunately, they aren't allowed on boardwalk portions of the Saunders-Monticello Trail. There are a number of other trails in the Monticello trail system. Difficulty levels vary, but there are plenty of easy trails for families with little ones. Photo courtesy of monticello.org. Blackrock Summit Hike (Grottoes, VA) Located in Shenandoah National Park, the hike to Blackrock Summit is an easy 1-mile loop with a great natural play area at the top, making for a perfect family day on the mountain. From the parking area, you will actually walk the Appalachian Trail south. It's a gentle uphill climb, until the trail winds around a huge talus slope of giant rocks. To return, take the left fork at the trail marker for Blackrock Spur Trail, which curves around the rocky slope. Then follow Blackrock Hut Road back down to the parking area. Independent walkers who are a little older are fine to do this entire trail on their own. Toddlers can definitely walk, and there are plenty of rocks to climb on too. The rocks are easier for small legs to do on their own from just past the intersection with Blackrock Spur Trail. Close supervision around the rocks is still a good idea, as is a carrier for very small ones. Read more about the trail in our Family Trail Guide. Tips: Don't expect much in the way of amenities. There are no toilets and no drinking water. There are no benches, either, but the rocks are comfortable enough for sitting, snacking, resting or nursing. The closest toilets are at Loft Mountain Wayside, 5 miles away on Skyline Drive. The cafeteria there sells hot food and ice cream as well. Cell phone reception is very limited. Protect yourself against tick-borne diseases with repellent specifically for these parasites. Protect yourself against bears by making noise. The noise of children is generally enough to scare them off, but keep in mind that they could be in the area. For those interested in longer hikes, there are more trails in this network, some leading to swimming holes and waterfalls! This is a pretty straightforward trail that leads to a phenomenal rock scramble with amazing views of the Blue Ridge Mountains. This is a perfect trail to add to a camping trip because it is so short, but the payoff from the views makes it worth it to drive to for the day as well. There are a lot of gorgeous places on Skyline Drive where you can pull off and look over the valley and on to the various mountain peaks. This trail gets you very wide panoramic views without the sound of cars passing behind you, and with the feeling of accomplishment that comes from hiking to the views. The rocks are also really fun to climb, for adults and kids alike! – Stephanie Jacobson Trail review and photo contributed by Stephanie Jacobson. What are your favorite hikes in Virginia for families with babies, toddlers and young children? Leave a comment below! MORE RESOURCES FOR FAMILIES WITH YOUNG CHILDREN Virginia offers an abundance of trails for families with young children. For more family hike ideas, see: Hike it Baby calendar (or connect with local branches) Hike it Baby Family Trail Guide Virginia State Parks Hike it Baby: 100 Awesome Outdoor Adventures with Babies and Toddlers – by Hike it Baby Founder Shanti Hodges If you’re traveling through Virginia and need more information or recommendations on trails or would like to join a group hike, the nearest Hike it Baby branches are Charlottesville, Fredericksburg, Hampton Roads, Harrisonburg, Prince Frederick, Richmond, Roanoke and Winchester. READ MORE 3 Hikes for Families With Young Children in West Virginia 3 Scenic North Carolina Trails for Families with Young Children 3 Memorable Trails to Explore With Children in Maryland Cannonball Trail review contributed by Melissa Freeman with help from Errign Siek. The Saunders-Monticello Trail review contributed by Jennifer Iyengar. Blackrock Summit review and photo contributed by Stephanie Jacobsen.

Looking for that perfect hike in Utah for young children? Whether you’re new to hiking with your baby or toddler, or you’re looking for a new trail to explore, the Hike it Baby community is a valuable resource for finding family hiking trails around the country. In this article, we share three amazing hikes in Utah to explore with babies and young children. Hiking with young children (under 5 years old) is different from hiking with school-age children. These three hikes in Utah offer families of young children beautiful trails to explore while considering the unique ways young children hike, wander, doddle and explore.  While there are thousands of trails to explore in Utah, our local Hike it Baby branches recommend these three hikes that are close to metro areas and great places to explore with young children. Jenny’s Canyon Trail, Snow Canyon (St. George, UT) If you want to experience the same red rock feel as Arches and Zion without the crowds, Jenny’s Canyon is a great choice. It’s a short hike that ends with a short slot canyon and is suitable for all ages. If you want to make a day of it, venture deeper into this park where you’ll find numerous toddler-appropriate slot canyons with high walls lined with petroglyphs and beautiful rocks that look like frozen layers of orange ribbon laying across the landscape. (This is also a great sampling of what slot canyons and Utah deserts feel like.) If you are up for more adventuring, try to get to the petrified dunes trail and get 1.5 more miles in. This is also a giant sandbox, so bring toys, find a shady spot and let the kids play in the cool sand. Learn more details about the trail at the Hike it Baby Family Trail Guide. My favorite part of the trail is the slot canyon at the end. It has stunning rock formations and provides a cool, shady place to rest. The trail itself is covered in beautiful red sand which kids of all ages like to play in. The color of sand is unique in itself. The trail is also littered with neat volcanic rock that paints a picture of what the land looked like thousands of years ago. —Katie Rains Insider's Tips Summer temperatures can exceed 100 degrees, so bring more water than you think you’ll need. It’s easy to get turned around in the slot canyons while searching for petroglyphs, and a one-hour hike can get much longer. Fall through spring are the best months to hike in this park; however, the trail is closed from March 15 to June 1 due to migratory birds inhabiting the area. The parking lot is small, so if the lot is full, park at the Sand Dunes Picnic Area and hike to the trailhead. Trail review contributed by Katie Rains, Heather Braden and Arika Bauer. Photo by Arika Bauer. Cecret Lake, Wasatch National Forest There are so many picturesque places along this trail in the Wasatch National Forest, from views of the canyon to surrounding mountain peaks, bubbling creeks, plus the amazing wildflowers. The elevation provides an escape from the heat of the Salt Lake Valley; it's usually 15-20° cooler up there. It's truly a wonderful place to bring a picnic lunch or even camp in the primitive campground if you want. There are tons of flowers to explore and learn about, and most of the trail is not steep, so there are lots of places to wander around and big rocks to climb on for big kids. Chipmunks, birds, deer, moose and salamanders in the lake are some wildlife you’ll possibly see while on the trail. Sometimes park rangers do a guided tour for little ones to point out different varieties of wildflowers. Visit our Family Trail Guide for more details on the hike. It's really beautiful, short, and you really feel like you're in the middle of the mountains when you really aren't; it's just 30-40 min from downtown Salt Lake City. —Alexandra Wong Insider’s Tips If you're there at sunset, the temperature drops fast after the sun goes down. Mid-July and August are the best times to go when the basin explodes with wildflowers; and morning or late afternoon on weekdays has fewer crowds. The summer access road is only open from July through Labor Day. The parking lot at the trailhead is tiny and if it's full, you'll have to wait until others leave before you can park in the parking lot. There is a $6 fee to enter the Summer Road and park in the Albion Basin. On weekends and holidays in the summer, the Alta Resort runs the Sunnyside Ski Lift, which takes visitors close to the Cecret Lake trailhead. Fees are $10 for adults and $6 for kids. Bring lots of water with you on your hike and listen to your body regarding your pace if you aren't acclimated to the elevation. And due to the rocky trail, make sure you wear sturdy shoes. Photo and review contributed by Alex Wong. Photo by Alex Wong. Capitol Gorge Trail to The Tanks, Capitol Reef National Park This hidden gem of a park often gets overlooked because it’s so close to the more famous national park attractions like Zion, Bryce and the Grand Canyon. With toddlers, Capitol Reef National Park is a not-to-be-missed stop in Utah for two reasons: flat, wide accessible trails for kids to run wild on with easy-to-climb sandstone and awesome apple pie. Yes, apple pie! This park is filled with easy trails for toddlers, whether you choose to walk on an interpretive boardwalk and look up at petroglyphs carved into the walls, hang out at the pioneer homestead and ranch, or head down the road and hike out through one of the flat, meandering dry creek beds. Flat and wide, this is an easy trail for any child to negotiate and would be fairly passable for those with all-terrain wheelchairs and strollers. If you choose to climb up to The Tanks, it will be an upward hike over flat rocks and a sandy trail. This is an out-and-back, so plan on taking it as far as your child can manage. It’s worth trying to get to The Tanks for a quick visit up to the Tank Bridge, a small rock arch. To get to this, you will hike .2 miles up at the end of the trail. For more details about the hike, visit the Family Trail Guide. Capitol Reef greets you with incredible red rock formations as soon as you enter the park. The trails vary from hiking through gorges to climbing rock stairs to walking along river beds. The best part is eating fresh pie and ice cream after a hike amidst fruit orchards and enjoying the trees. —Melody Forsyth Insider’s Tips: The road leading to the trailhead is best accessed with a 4X4, but doable in a car. Inside the park is a little pioneer town called Fruita, once a Mormon homestead. The gift shop located in the farmhouse bakes fresh pies every morning. Add a scoop of vanilla ice cream for a delicious treat. Flash flood hazards are something to be aware of in desert regions. If one occurs, don’t cross floodwaters. Climb high to safety and respect road closures during flood events. Photo by Shanti Hodges. Review submitted by Jennifer Campbell & Melody Forsyth. Photo courtesy of Shanti Hodges. What are your favorite hikes in Utah for families with babies, toddlers and young children? Leave a comment below! More Resources for Families with Young Children Hike it Baby calendar (or connect with the local branch) Hike it Baby Family Trail Guide Utah State Parks Hike it Baby: 100 Awesome Outdoor Adventures with Babies and Toddlers – New Book by Hike it Baby Founder Shanti Hodges Read More: 3 Unique hikes in California for kids of all ages 3 Memorable hikes in Colorado for families with young children First Time Hiking with Kids? Helpful Tips to Get out on Trail